Hair curler



Jan. 8, 1957 M. PAPANDREA HAIR CURLER Filed Nov. 9, 1955 United States Patent O HAIR CURLER Margaret Papandrea, Westfield, N. J.

Application November 9, 1953, Serial No. 390,901

Claims. (Cl. 132-41) This invention relates to hair curlers and more particularly to `a curler of the so-called pin cur type which is particularly adapted for repeatedself application by the average woman and which is soft and pliable `so as to insure the complete comfort of the wearer even when sleeping on the curlers.

Accordingly the present invention contemplates a hair curler `that is extremely light, ilexible, cheap to manufacture `and easy of application, and which when applied will hardly be noticeable to the wearer even when sleeping with a large number of curlers .affixed to the hair.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a curler according to the present invention engaging a lock of hair Aprior to curling thereof;

Figure 2' isa view `similar to Figure l of an intermediate stage showing the curled hair in Aposition in the curler with the curler partially closed Ithereabout;

Figure 3 .is a `sectional View of `the curler `of Figure 2 in the completely-engagedcoditiom Figure 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a curler according to the present invention;

Figure `5 is a-view similar to Figure 4 of a still further embodiment;

Figures `6, 7, and v8 are sectional views taken on a line such as 6 6, Figure 5, showing various embodiments of the present invention indifferent materials; and

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 5 of another embodment of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure l, the curler 10 comprises a generally circular central portion 12 which forms a base or platform for the curler and which has therein a zigzag or saw-toothed slit 14 adapted to receive a lock of hair. Extending radially from the central base portion 12 are four arms of fingers 16. These arms 16 are spaced at approximately 90 intervals thereabout and are adapted to be overlapped across the main base portion 12. According to the present invention, the curler 10 is made of any thin llexible material such as cloth, a exible plastic sheet, thin sheet metal or other similar material that may be used repeatedly and will not cause injury to the hair or scalp.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the curler is made of a soft flexible cloth or plastic that may be readily folded about a curl. Positioned within the base portion 1'2 is a reinforcing spring member 18 which is of a circular shape having bent over end portions 19 positioned along the slit 14. Spring 18 is thus adapted to urge the zig-zag slit into the closed position about `a lock of hair. The spring member 18 may be of any suitable thin spring wire and may be imbedded in the base portion 12 or secured thereto in any desired manner.

Positioned on at least one pair of lthe radial arms 16 are one or more snap fastener elements 20 for holding the curler in position about the curl. Illustratively I have shown a single male element 20 on the arm 16 and three female elements 20 on the arm 16. This allows a considerable range of adjustability depending upon the 2,776,666 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 ICC length of Ithe hair and the `consequent size .of the curl to insure a tight grasping of the curl, even though small, and to prevent undesired falling apart of the curl before it is set.

In operation the curler is applied about a lock of hair at the base thereof and against the scalp by spreading two of the ears 16 to permit the entry of the lock of hair into the slit 14. The arms 16 are then released so that spring member 18 can close the slit against the hair in somewhat comb fashion and hold the curler in place. A lock of vhair is then curled about the nger or in any other suitable manner and deposited on the base portion 12 of the curler 1l). The two opposite arms 16 are then folded thereover. In the form shown in Figure 1, where snap fasteners are provided on only .one pair of the arms 16, the pair not having .the snap fasteners are rst folded over the curl and then the pair 16', 16 are folded over and the `snap fastener element 26 engaged in the nearest coinciding portion 20'. Obviously where both pairs of arms are provided with snap fastener elements either pair may be closed rst. Figure 2 shows `the intermediate step of folding over the pair of arms not having the snap fasteners while Figure 3 shows the completed curl with the snap fasteners engaged in the middle female member 20'.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown another embodiment of my present invention. In this embodiment the curler 10a comprises .a central b ase portion 12a having four arms or fingers 16a extending radially therefrom and having a saw-toothed slot 14a therein. Again the curler 10a is made of any suitable soft pliable material and in this embodiment has imbedded therein a spring yelement 18a as described above. Also imbedded within the `arm 16a and .extending somewhat into the base portion 12a are soft bendable elements 22 which may be readily deformed and will maintain the deformed position. These elements are advantageously of a soft iron wire or similar metallic element that may be repeatedly bent and unbent and that will hold the curl in place against the pressure exerted thereby.

The method of application and use is substantially the same as with Figures l and 2 except that instead of relying upon snap fastener elements to maintain the curler ngers about the curl the bendable wires 22 perform this function.

Figures 6 through 8 show various forms which lthis latter type curler may take. Figure 6 shows two layers of a heavy paper or cellulose fiber that join together about a central soft benda'ole wire 22. The paper may be treated to be water resistant or waterproof as desired and to give it added strength for repeated application.

In Figure 7 the curler is shown as made of a vinyl plastic in which the stiffening wire 22 is imbedded when the plastic is molded. Alternatively two strips of vinyl plastic could be pressure formed together about a stiffening wire member such as 22.

Figure 8 shows the curler as made of a fabric and having therein a Hat metal strip 26 which is of a soft bendable material and performs a similar function to that of the wire 22. Naturaly, if desired, the frat bendable strip 26 could be used in the embodiment such as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and the rear spring member 18 or 18a could be utilized as necessary, depending upon the inherent resilient characteristics of the material being used to form the curler.

In Figure 5 there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the curler ltb may be of either of the types of Figures 1 or 4 but has therein a plurality of holes 24 which act as Ventilating holes and permit greater access of air to the curl so that the hair will dry more rapidly and hasten the setting of the curl,

Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the curler 10c comprises a central base portion 12e having four arms or fingers 16e` extending radially therefrom. In this embodiment the curler is formed in two substantially identical halves 30 by, for instance, stamping from sheet metal or molding of a plastic material and the two halves pivotally joined at 32. Each half has catch portions 34 and 34 at the other end which are adapted to be engaged to hold the curler about a lock of hair. Each half 30 comprises an outer frame portion 36 having a plurality of teeth 38 integrally attached thereto. The arms 16C are illustratively shown the same as the embodiment of Figure 5. In use the two halves would be opened about the pivot 32, a lock of hair inserted, and the two halves brought together in cone fashion until the catch portions 34 and 34 are engaged. The hair is then curled as described above, and the arm 16C folded over to hold the curl in proper position.

While there are given above certain specific examples of this invention and its application in practical use and also certain modifications and alternatives, it should be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting of the invention. On the contrary, these illustrations and the explanations herein are given in order to acquaint others skilled in the art with this invention and the principles thereof and a suitable manner of its application in practical use, so that others skilled in the art may be enabled to modify the invention and to adapt and apply it in numerous forms, each as may be best suited to the requirement of a particular use.

I claim:

1. A hair curler of the type for setting pin curls which comprises a base portion having therein a saw-toothed slit, four radially extending arms positioned about the periphery of said base portion at approximately 90 intervals, reinforcing means positioned in said base and arm portions, said reinforcing means within the base portion being of a spring material adapted to urge said slit to the closed position and said reinforcing means in said arm portions being of a soft bendable material that will remain in a deformed position until positively removed therefrom.

2. A hair curler comprising a thin at base portion having a narrow zig-zag slit extending substantially across it, and a plurality of thin wide at arms, radially extending from the periphery of said base portion and adapted to be folded thereover, said arms being stiff and nonre silient so that they will remain in folded position until positively unfolded.

3. A hair curler comprising a thin flat base member having a central portion with a slit-like opening extending through one edge centrally toward an opposite edge, said central portion having opposed teeth extending toward each other from opposite sides of said opening in a generally Zig-zag configuration, said teeth being movable apart to permit a hank of hair to be inserted from the edge of said central portion into said opening, said base member having a plurality of outward extending flat arms spaced therearound and adapted to be folded over and upon said central portion, means urging the teeth of said central portion together, and means for holding said arms in folded relation over said central portion.

4. The combination of elements as in claim 3 wherein said central portion has a disc-like shape and there are four arms equally spaced therearound extending radially outward, and in which said opening extends from a point at the edge of said portion between two of said arms, said teeth being urged together by a spring member carried by said central portion.

5. A curler comprising a base portion having a slit extending substantially across said base portion, a plurality of radially extending arms positioned about the periphery of said base portion and adapted to be folded thereover, and fastening means for maintaining said arms in the folded position, said fastening means comprising a spring member positioned in the base portion so as to urge said slit to the closed position and a non-resilient member disposed in each of said radially extending arm portions whereby said arm portion when folded over the base portion will remain in set position to maintain a curl formed therein in proper position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,097 Klotkowski June 27, 1950 2,524,266 Licastro Oct. 3, 1950 2,549,901 Greenbrier Apr. 24, 1951 2,623,530 Solomon Dec. 30, 1952 2,627,275 Kiviluoma Feb. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,408 Denmark June 19, 1944 

